FLAGSHIP developments like Kingston Dock are helping the local housing market — as Inverclyde suffers the biggest fall in prices in the country.

Over the last 10 years the district has seen house prices dropping by 19 per cent.

But estate agents say that the housing market is showing signs of recovery and attracting attention from potential buyers from outwith the area.

New developments in Port Glasgow, Greenock and Inverkip are helping drive prices back up, according to local estate agent and financial service advisors Brian Harkins.

Estate agent Andrew Harkins from the family-run firm said: “There is a real demand in Kingston Dock now that they have stopped building.

“People are looking to live there.

“It is the same in Inverkip where they have built new houses.

“The houses in Inverclyde are great value when you look at what you get for your money, compared with other places.

“We are getting lots of interest from outside, particularly from people looking to invest in the area.

“We get enquiries from people living elsewhere all the time, that is definitely increasing.

“I think with the retail developments in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde is definitely on the up.

“People are also realising that the schools are superior.”

According to a new report by business experts PwC, Inverclyde is one of four local authorities to have experienced a large fall in house prices.

The decline was 16 per cent in East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Andrew added: “We have definitely had a drop.

“An example would be in 2007 you could sell houses in some areas for around £100,000 but now you are looking at somewhere around £90,000 to £95,000. 

“There were definitely some tough years, but Inverclyde is getting stronger.”

Bearing this out, new figures from Registers of Scotland published yesterday show that in the last 12 months average prices in Inverclyde have risen by 3.4 per cent — from £102,000 to £105,000.

This is in line with the national average.

The outlook is uncertain though, as PwC warn that the market nationwide is particularly exposed to instability, warning specifically about the impact of Brexit.